Setting My Intention: Transform

 

As 2014 draws to a close, and I reflect back on the past twelve months, I’m left with a sense of stagnation and underachievement.  Flicking through the pages of my journal the reason is clear, for a theme of constant pain screams loudly from its pages.

 

There has been an MRI, x-rays, degenerated and herniated discs, sciatica, facial nerve pain, migraines, night sweats, night terrors, blood tests, chiropractors, physical therapy, steroid injections, weight gain, tiredness, anger and frustration.

 

Interestingly, the word I chose for 2014 was 'Breathe' and there were definitely times when it was as simple as that . . . all I could do to carry me forward . . . and in the breathing I found resilience, a welcome travel companion.

 

Despite all this, wonderful moments managed to weave their way through the year too like publishing my first book of poetry, celebrating 15 years of marriage, going to my first ever concert, a visit to the UK and time spent with family.

 

Each New Year brings possibility and renewed hope, a blank slate, and I wanted to choose a word that would encourage movement, change and growth.  Noticing a white feather by my side gave me an idea.  I wrote words on pieces of paper, folded them up and threw them in the air . . . the one which landed closest to the feather would be my chosen word and it couldn’t have been more perfect.  So the word that will accompany me throughout 2015 is:

 

transform

: to change in form, appearance or character

 

Have you chosen your word yet?

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your loved ones a truly magical Christmas or (insert other holiday). 

 

Thank you for your friendship, your visits and comments, they have meant so much to me.

 

I look forward to seeing where 2015 takes each of us.

 

Mistletoe Kisses

 

Kathryn xxx

Mining The Obscure



navel gazing turns distant
sinking inwards
unearthing wormholes existence

while wonder
swirling featherless
mines the obscure

and I'm left wondering
if dark matter matters

if my world is whirling
or if it's me that's swirling
motionless
in the whirlpool of life

trapped circling the absence
of everything and nothing

 Linking up with Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

Fingerprinting Truth

"Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow . . ."  L C Powell

 

Silence Is Golden

Mixed Media Art Painting

a tongue speaks in disguised thoughts
articulating the betrayal
of words
    of sound
        of silent wisdom
as barely a whisper screams expression
bridging the gap between want and choice
where footprints are seen
not heard
merely echoes reflecting reality
visible in all their falseness
and behind the mass of disquiet
a heart's beat measures the load
of intrepid, hell-bent mutterings
determined to fingerprint truth

Linking up with #Reverb14, and Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

BLOWOUT SALE @ Dyche Designs Studio

You can now find all my art prints on CLEARANCE for just $6.00.  These items will be discontinued once sold so if you have a favorite now's the time to purchase.

 

Go to Dyche Designs Studio to view entire selection.

You will also find a number of scarves and art paintings on sale throughout my shop also.

 

Happy Holidays.

#Reverb14: Loving What Is

It’s all too easy to put off loving where we are until everything is perfect. What can you love about where you are now?

Half-brained thoughts, unfinished art, random scraps of paper with words scrawled on them, unread books piled high, a laundry pile that threatens to topple, a kitchen sink full of dirty dishes . . . . . . all of these can have me feeling as though my life is unraveling.

Then I turn on some music, head to the studio and in that moment, in the mess of it all, life is good.

Linking up with #Reverb14

 

******

 

Save 15% off all art paintings, prints and journals at Dyche Designs Studio.

 

Enter coupon code SAVE15 during checkout to receive your discount.

#Reverb14: Certainty

Take a quiet moment to consider: what can you say right now with certainty?

 

Opening the brown cardboard box my breathing instinctively slows and with a deep breath, I lift out the tree, bound in burlap with a red bow, the one you bought for me.

Straightening branches and adjusting lights, I feel the tenuous link to Christmases past, the ones with you in them.  The lights blur and in a teary haze, I see you.  Somehow, you found the strength to give us that last Christmas Day for sixteen days later you would breathe your last breath.

Time nudges me forever forward but there is one thing I am certain of . . . I will always love you.

Linking up with #Reverb14

Thank You

As we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the US I wanted to take the opportunity to send out a big thank you to you all.

 

Thank you for your love, friendship, support and encouragement.    For your bravery, honesty, courage and strength.  For your art, words, photography and creativity. For your generosity, passion, emotion and heart  . . . . . but most of all THANK YOU . . . . . for being you.

Bound Tightly Open

the end of beginnings

the beginning of ends

observer of the insipid

of disingenuous truth

 

piercing introspective

rattling nerves

as key

to a lockless room

a fingerprint

in a sea of hands

pained

by the strength of scars

label adhered wounds

full-mouthed and slipping

stitched up , threaded

bound tightly open

Linking up with Imaginary Garden With Real Toads and Poetry Pantry

Love In The Time Of Melancholy

my heart shatters
at the pitch of you

jagged shards of F sharp blues
a melancholy chord
soul bound strung

in words
    in notes
        it's all the same

innuendos instrumental
in the rhythm of blame
crescendo's dulcet irony

your feet rumble a beat
of lock stock and barrel
in a distant key
 

Linking up with Imaginary Garden With Real Toads and Poets United

******

HOLIDAY SALE: receive 25% off your purchase with coupon code HOLIDAY14.  Simply enter during checkout to receive your discount (offer excludes shipping).

Dyche Designs Studio

An Altered Mind

there's no magic in dry spells

in uncertainty and doubt

in tones of expectation

or in hues of drawing out

 

but in stroking the darkness

in the fear of letting go

embracing random chaos

in letting emotions flow

 

executing ideas

not by guillotine or gun

but through the touch of texture

in unravelling undone

 

emerging to dull echoes
of great suffering and pain
a mind altered of color
yet the shadows they remain

Linking up with dVerse

******

HOLIDAY SALE: receive 25% off your purchase with coupon code HOLIDAY14.  Simply enter during checkout to receive your discount (offer excludes shipping).

Dyche Designs Studio

In The Studio

It's been a painting and prepping kind of day until a migraine and my facial nerve pain stopped me in my tracks.

 Tristan, our tabby is my studio buddy.  He loves to hang out on the window seat and take long catnaps.  What creative endeavors have you all been up to?

******

 

HOLIDAY SALE

at

DYCHE DESIGNS STUDIO

 

25% OFF all paintings, prints and journals in my Etsy Shop. 
Enter coupon code HOLIDAY14 during checkout to receive your discount. 

Home Town Nominated Best In Britain

The town where I grew up was recently voted best town centre in Britain.  For those of you who are interested in seeing what a small market town in the UK looks like click on the video link below.

 

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2014-11-08/best-town-centre-in-britain-is-wantage-in-oxfordshire/

HOLIDAY SALE at Dyche Designs Studio

For the month of November I am running a Holiday Sale on all art paintings, journals and prints in my Etsy Shop.  To receive your 25% DISCOUNT simply enter coupon code HOLIDAY14 during checkout.  Have fun browsing.

Dyche Designs Studio

Dead Man Walking

stench of death tinged with breadth of life
tongues a warning of regret and grief
value measured in shades of grey
mourning rising each generation

dreams of color form ashen footsteps
with gait of choices on dusty road
to the vibrating pulse of a static heart
charred with remains of earthy memories

the subtle hues of light and dark
rich with allusion cast no shadow
for he is obscure, a shade of sunless
for he is the shadow, the dead man walking

Linking up with dVerse

Holiday: Part Four (Falconry Center)

I got to celebrate my 42nd birthday this year in the UK with my mum.  I managed to rope her into joining with me for a falconry experience at a center near her home and had no idea what an amazing day it would turn out to be.
 



 

It was a real privilege to get close to such powerful and magnificent creatures.  Birds of prey are truly stunning.

 

Well that marks the end of my holiday series, thanks for sticking with me.  I hope I didn't bore you all to death and that you enjoyed a peek into my UK adventures.